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Life Planning & Wealth Preservation Newsletter

For your convenience, we have archived our monthly newsletter.

• Majoring in Minor Children (July 10)
  Most Parents expend considerable time and treasure to provide for their minor children. But not all parents live to see their children enter adulthood. Our lead article reviews key considerations to provide for your children in a world without you.
• Educating Young Adults About Estate Planning (Jun 10)
  By and large, Americans are a rather independent lot. This month's article reviews some fundamental threats to our personal independence in the context of estate planning for young adult Americans. You will want to share this article with the young adults in your life.
• Facing Facts About Death and Taxes (May 10)
  It can be difficult to ponder our own mortality. That is just our human nature. Nevertheless, the clock is ticking for each of us. Our lead article highlights some critical issues we all need to address while there is still time to make proper financial and legal plans.
• Family Limited Partnerships (April 10)
  Family Limited Partnerships offer many benefits, both tax and non-tax. Our lead article is a primer that explores why they are at once a taxpayer favorite and a favorite target of the IRS and some courts.
• Lifetime Gifting: Part of Your Multi-Generation Estate Planning (March 10)
  Would you prefer to transfer more wealth to your family instead of the IRS? Our lead article summarizes the relevant lifetime gifting rules and considers two common do-it-yourself transfer methods.
• Five Common Estate Planning Mistakes (February 10)
  Proper estate planning is not just for the rich and famous. Surprisingly, however, that is a common misconception. Every adult American has an estate worth planning, regardless of their net worth. In this article we review some critical estate planning concerns.
• Estate Planning Challenges for Business Owners (January 10)
  The survival rate of family businesses from generation to generation is rather dismal. To help prevent your business from becoming an unfortunate statistic tomorrow, we review some common challenges for you to address today (before it is too late).
• Procrastination & Estate Planning (December 09)
  Why doesn’t everyone have their final affairs in order, especially in light of the likelihood of incapacity and the certainty of death? This article takes aim at the chief culprit: procrastination.
• Seasonal Solutions: The Stages of Life & Estate Planning (November 09)
  To everything there is a season. So it is with your Life & Estate Plan. This article uses a Seasons of Life theme to illustrate how your Life & Estate Plan may change with your personal and financial circumstances over your lifetime.
• Admirable Estate Administration (October 09)
  Have you appointed trusted family members, friends or professionals to serve as the fiduciaries of your estate plan upon your death? If so, our lead article is a must-read as we review some of the responsibilities (and liabilities) they will face.
• Estate Planning Challenges for Blended Families (September 09)
  Is your family a blended family? If so, then you face unique inheritance challenges, to include disinheriting your ex-spouse, providing for your new spouse and your own children, and protecting their inheritance.
• Unique Estate & Financial Challenges for Women (August 09)
  Women face unique Life and Estate Planning Issues, and yet too often their own needs are overlooked. They are too busy taking care of everyone else -- their families, their careers, parents, social causes.

Additional Services

• www.HilliardMediation.com
  Mediation and Dispute Resolution; Real Estate and Business Litigation; Construction and Construction Defect; Community Outreach

Upcoming Workshops

• LifePlan™ Workshops

       "Whether You Have A Living Trust Or Not ... 
       You Must Attend This Workshop"
  
  

• Client Workshops
  • Integrating Your IRA With Your Estate Plan
  • Asset Protection
  • Planning For Long Term Care / Medicaid
  • Elder Fraud
    
    
• Professional Advisor Workshops

Websites For Seniors

• AARP
  AARP is the nation's leading organization for people age 50 and older. It serves their needs and interests through information and education, advocacy and community services which are provided by a network of local chapters and experienced volunteers throughout the country.
• Aging Information Center
  Provides a database of materials, reports and lists new publications and statistical information on the elderly from the Census Bureau and other sources. Full screen graph showing the growth of the 65+ populations through the year 2005.
• Alzheimer's Association
  Provides information on the prevention, cures, and treatments of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Also provides support and assistance to patients and their families.
• Better Business Bureau
  The Better Business Bureau is a non-profit organization that tracks consumer complaints and better business practices. This site will verify whether the company you are doing business with is a member in good standing.
• Character Counts Organization
  The most widely implemented approach to character education – embraced by thousands of schools, communities, public agencies, and nonprofits, nonpartisan, nonsectarian – promotes the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, & citizenship.
• Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
  Education and advocacy group. You can "Ask Mary Jane" questions on Medicare and Social Security on the website.
• Health and Human Resources
  The Department of Health and Human Resources is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Links to many other agencies.
• Huffington Center on Aging
  Provides basic information on aging, how aging is evident in the arts, centenarians and aging research.
• Internal Revenue Service
  Provides all kinds of information regarding federal and state taxes. You can also print forms directly from the web site.
• Meals on Wheel Association
  (MOWAA) represents those who provide meal services to senior citizens and others in need. Call the ElderCare locator number to find the meal on wheels program closest to your location.
• Social Security Administration
  This is a very large site offering everything from Social Security related news items to laws, regulations, forms, benefit, publications, research statistics and more.
• WebMD Health
  Provides all kinds of information on health topics as well as a way to quick search for your particular medical condition. One of the best sites for medical research.

Hotlines for Seniors

• Alzheimer's Association
  800-272-3900
• Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral
  800-438-4380
• American Council of the Blind
  800-424-8666
• American Diabetes Association
  800-342-2383
• Arthritis Foundation
  800-238-7800
• Consumer Nutrition Hotline
  800-366-1655
• Depression Bipolar Support Alliance
  800-826-3632
• Eldercare Locator
  800-677-1116
• Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) of Ventura County, CA,
  A program of Conejo Valley Senior Concerns, Inc.
  805-497-0189
• Mediation – Hilliard Mediation Services
  805-908-1576
• Medicare Hotline
  800-633-4227
• Nation Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
  800-622-2255
• Social Security
  800-772-1213